With the economy on the fritz, many people are working twice as hard to make up for colleagues lost in layoffs. It can be hard to pick up the slack and still have energy at the end of the day -- or even working weekends.

In the food business, I'm used to long hours, but I have come up with some ways to fight fatigue when I just don't have time for exercise or R&R is nowhere in sight. Making simple changes to your eating habits can have a huge effect on your energy level throughout the day, which can help you work faster and more efficiently.

After the jump get Jennifer's tips for fighting fatigue while eating deliciously.

• The Detroit News delights in the ins and outs of tea, from selecting leaves to crafting the perfect brew -- plus a whole slew of tasty tea-based recipes.
• Nabbed from the Sacramento Bee, here's a quiz on how to increase your calcium intake and stave off osteoporosis.
• When is it OK to use canned tomatoes instead of the fresh stuff? Off-season!
• The News (not the band) performs a blind tasting for potato soups.
• Change up that beloved-by-sick-folks standby with Chicken-Lime Soup with Crispy Tortillas.
• Yet another recall hits the news: This time, Canton's Mucci's Food Products pulls products prepared without federal inspection.
• Recipes: Pan-Seared Scallop and Asparagus with Sherry Vinaigrette, Lemon Tortellini with Prosciutto.
• Michigan Events: The sixth annual Epicurean Classic, Michigan Wine Month, and Vinotecca and Vinology.

I know the words genetic and engineering in the same sentence are very frightening to some. Until recently I was opposed to it myself, and I still have some reservations. But in light of all the benefits we've gained from tinkering with vegetable genes, I think we should give it a chance. Lets start with super carrots.

Scientists working at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas have developed a carrot that will deliver 41% more calcium than a regular carrot. To do it, they altered a gene which lets the vegetables calcium flow more easily through its membranes. This modification alone wouldn't get you 100% of the recommended daily calcium, but any little bit helps; especially if you are allergic to dairy.

There is a lot more testing to be done before the super carrots are ready for mass consumption. But as scientists find more health hazards in high fat diets, this may be one of the best ways to get the calcium you need while avoiding high fat dairy products. In the future, the slogan for osteoporosis prevention may be "Eat Your Carrots!"

[Via Coldmud.com]

Protons are the first crunchy tofu soy snacks on the market. They are high in protein and calcium, have soy iso-flavones, iron, and fiber. They're also low in carbs and sodium and have no cholesterol and zero trans fats. Their also natural, organic, vegan, dairy free, gluten free, non GMO, and have no preservatives. WOW! Can you put any more healthy tag words in one paragraph? I'm feeling great just typing this.

They come in six tasty flavors, three sweet and three savory: Backyard Bar-B-Q, Tomato Herb Garden, Chili Lime Fiesta, Lemon Meringue Pie, Maple Syrup Waffle, and Cinnamon Toast. You can eat them plain for a snack, use the savory ones like croutons on soups or salads, and some folks even eat the sweet ones like cereal, in a bowl with milk or soy milk. Mmmm... Mmmm. Sounds mighty tasty to me. Just don't accidentally mix the sweet and savory or you'll be having tomato soup with lemon meringue pie croutons for lunch, and Backyard Bar-B-Q cereal for breakfast. Oh, I'm sooo confused. Just pass me some protons.

Trader Joe's has recently released a new line of supplements. The Milk Chocolate Calcium supplements are foil-covered balls of milk chocolate that contain 500 mg of calcium each, which is 50% of the recommended daily minimum. The chocolate isn't quite as rich and smooth as the rest of the chocolate that Trader Joe's carries, but this is hardly surprising - as this chocolate is not classified as candy, but as a nutritional supplement. It is a pleasantly sweet milk chocolate and is perhaps ever so slightly grainy, though the chocolate does melt fairly smoothly in your mouth after several moments. Compared with other chocolaty nutritional supplements I've had, these are far and away the best. While I won't be replacing any of my favorite chocolate snacks, each ball contains only 45 calories, and with 50% of my daily calcium requirement, I'll be having them on a regular basis.

The classification as a nutritional supplement also means that directions for use had to be put on the container, unlike regular tins of chocolate, where people are left to their own devices to discern they must  "Chew thoroughly before swallowing."

[Photo by Nicole Weston]